We had no intention of staying on the Grand Resort in Eastbourne.
At teatime we had checked into its sister lodge, Ashdown Park, in West Sussex, and have been nearly to go off for a swim within the indoor pool when the fireplace alarm sounded.
Then a porter banged on the door and informed us a ‘full evacuation’ had been ordered.
Stately: The Grand Resort in Eastbourne was in-built 1875. The lodge is named the White Palace
I grabbed my swimming trunks earlier than heading all the way down to reception, leaving much more worthwhile issues within the room to be incinerated.
At reception, we have been informed that the boiler was spewing poisonous fumes and it could be a while earlier than we may return to that wing of the lodge.
Truly, my spouse’s nostril had twitched once we have been first proven the room, to which my response was to throw open the home windows and persuade her that every thing was simply high-quality.
Once we have been allowed again into the East Wing of this sprawling — and, frankly, dispiritingly gloomy gothic pile — the manageress stated there was no assure of any sizzling water and that the odor would nonetheless be lingering.
We packed our baggage. That was when the manageress provided a berth 45 minutes away at The Grand, an excellent larger lodge (155 rooms). So off we went down the A22.
On arrival, we have been informed that our agreed fee at Ashdown Park of a whopping £230 B&B can be honoured and that we had been upgraded to a collection.
Huge: The Grand Resort has an enormous most important eating room that makes visitors really feel like they’ve boarded a cruise ship
We didn’t assume that was adequate, however weren’t within the temper for a scrap.
The Grand was in-built 1875 and is named the White Palace.
It’s much more enticing than Ashdown Park, with an enormous foyer and even larger most important eating room that made us assume we had boarded a cruise ship.
Kids have been operating round; aged individuals have been shuffling alongside the carpeted ground and the obliging employees have been dashing about carrying trays of meals.
As a result of we have been eager to observe the rugby, we opted to stay in our suite with its floral pelmets, old school armchairs, chintzy bedspread and repro furnishings that wouldn’t have regarded misplaced at a charity store moderately than eat within the eating room. What we wished shortly was a drink.
Practically 20 minutes after ordering a bottle of wine, I known as Room Service and vented some frustration concerning the delay.
I gave the poor fellow our full story, including in the direction of the tip of the rant that I anticipated some kind of recompense for being in Eastbourne within the first place.
Our wine arrived shortly afterwards however it was a full 70 minutes earlier than any meals appeared. Unacceptable.
There’s nothing {that a} good night time’s sleep can’t put proper. We awoke to blue skies and earlier than breakfast I got here throughout the younger man who had ultimately introduced up our dinner.
He was disarmingly well mannered and apologetic.
He even drew us a map of the place we’d discover a few antiques retailers simply off the promenade.
At check-out, we have been solely charged for our meals, which I assumed was admirable.
However, then, I realised that the total £230 already had been charged to my bank card on arrival.
I attempted a few days later to return to some association however the Grand was having none of it, suggesting that I take it up with Ashdown Park.
